Oregon lags nation in growth of women-owned firms

The number of women-owned firms in Oregon is increasing at a slower pace than the national average.

The State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, released Wednesday and commissioned by American Express OPEN, found that there are about 108,900 women-owned firms in Oregon, up 35.2 percent from 1997, which ranked the state No. 37. The national average growth rate was 54.1 percent.

The report, based on U.S. Census Bureau data, also found that those firms are on track to generate revenue of $14.89 billion this year, up 44.1 percent from 1997, which ranked the state No. 40. The national average revenue growth rate was 57.7 percent.

Portland is home to 64,000 women-owned firms, up 17 percent from 2002, the most recent year of available data. Those firms are on track to generate about $11.06 billion in revenue, up 38 percent from 2002.